Geno Smith avoids chiming in on the quarterback competition question

Posted by Mike Florio on May 28, 2014, 8:57 PM EST

AP

With Jets coach Rex Ryan and quarterback Mike Vick providing increasingly conflicting perspectives regarding the existence of a true competition for the starting job, one key figure in the equation managed to say nothing on Wednesday.

So what’s going on here? The Jets undoubtedly want Smith to think he’s competing for his job, even if he isn’t. Vick, who won a real quarterback competition last year in Philly, knows that it’s a sham — and he isn’t afraid to say so.

Vick’s candor undermines the ruse, as it relates to convincing Smith and anyone paying attention that Smith actually beat out Mike Vick in a fair-and-square contest for the top of the depth chart. That helps Vick avoid the inevitable appearance that he lost the gig to Smith. It also potentially will keep Smith from realizing the psychological benefit of winning the job via open competition with Mike Vick, which could make Smith more likely to struggle. Which in turn could give Vick an opening to play.

In a roundabout way, then, telling the world that there’s no open competition could help Vick eventually win the job.

And while Smith didn’t talk to the media today, he’ll eventually be asked to break the tie between his coach and his supposed competition.

Please! Vick is just CYA here. If he doesn’t win the job then it doesn’t look like he lost it to a 2nd year QB. If he does win the position it looks like he overcame great odds with an overwhelming performance in camp

You don’t read between the lines do you? Since day one its been clear that Vick is the backup QB, anybody with two ears, two eyes & half a brain could see that from day one. The Jets are touting competition at every position, that’s their mantra. I’m sure if you asked if there is a competition at LE they would go with the same mantra because that’s all it is, a saying, a general vibe you want to create during camp, competition, competition, competition. Read between the lines a bit more, it’s Geno’s job to lose, Vick is just being honest but he knows he’s here to be a back up & sounds fine with his role, no reason to make a fuss over this nonsense if that’s the case.

What’s so hard to understand. Smith sucked most of last year (ROOKIE). Played better at the end, they improved the team and want to see if he will improve also. He showed enough that it would be stupid to give up on him so quickly. If he sucks, Vick will start and they will draft another QB next yr. Why is the media making such a big deal?

His answer will be something like “You have to prove yourself every day in the NFL. It doesn’t matter if you call it a competition for the position or not–you always have to prove you’re better at your position than anyone else on the roster.”

I don’t mind Vick saying it is not an open competition, because it’s not completely an open competition because Geno will get the nod in a close competition even if he slightly underperforms. Also, if Vick wants to help develop Geno, which I believe he does (sees a bit of himself in him), then the best way to get Geno to listen to him is to feel comfortable with him.

I’m no Geno fan, dont even like the Jets. But come on give a young QB a chance. Back in the day rookie QB’s often sat the first year or two before starting, now so many seem to start instantly and if theyre not a pro bowler they’re declared a bust !

Rick Mirer was rookie of the year, how did that turn out ? Many other rookie QB’s have had poor seasons, I remember some fans/media saying the Cowboys should trade Troy Aikman instead of Steve Walsh.

Yeah Geno didnt have the best year but he had some good moments amongst the bad. But give a young QB a chance for 3 seasons at least before declaring hes a bust.

As for the dog killer Vick, he should stop talking to the media every 5 seconds out the ‘non QB competition’ and just concentrate on winning the job.

Geno gets the job… Gets pulled by week 5. Vick plays 3 games gets hurt. Geno finishes the season improving his 12 passing td total to 14 and throws only 20 picks. Pretty sure this is the year the garbage fire known as the NJ Jets actually burns to the ground.

Proved that by running away and saying he wouldn’t come back the next day when he wasn’t drafted in the 1st round.

Talk about a lack of mental fortitude.

And that was HIM… the real, true Geno.

They had to talk him into going and they spun it afterwards…

But he showed what he was made of, or wasn’t made of then.

He didn’t get what he wanted and he took his ball and went home so to speak…

keylimelight says:May 29, 2014 8:43 AM

How to you go from “Geno Smith avoids chiming in” to “the Jets didn’t make Geno Smith available to the media”? And then conclude that the QB competition is a “ruse” and Vick knows it’s a “sham”? I don’t think that’s a logical conclusion to draw.

The NY media will hound and hound on the QB issue. What exactly do you expect these guys to say day after day, week after week?

How long will the Geno Smith charade last? He dropped in the draft for a reason, the dude just doednt have a lot going on upstairs and most of his passes in college were dumpoffs or terrible throws saved by Tavon Austin. If Rex wants to keep his job and have a shot for the playoffs this year.. Vick is the way to go

What does any of this really matter??? This league now belongs to Russell, Marshawn, and the LEGION OF BOOM!!! Ohh let us not forget PERCY!!!! Haha. Must really suck to all be playing for the right to get EMBARRASSED by the Seahawks come February!!!

remember kolb? I do, don’t know if I’ll ever forget that memory!
was at the game in balt when andy pulled Donovan for kolb, birds were winning at the time 10-9, kevin went on to throw 3 ints (longest int return in history in fact). eags lost….
Vick started every game since that year when Kevin was concussed.

note to Geno… DON’T GET HURT!!!! Be safe, be smart! and don’t be like vick, LEARN TO SLIDE!!!